The promoter has checked his copy multiple times and has reduced the number of apartments from 36 to 24. He believes that further reduction would hinder the functioning of clustered housing and community activities.
Alain De Braekeleer explains that creating common spaces for community activities requires significant effort and investment. Further reduction would negatively impact the quality of life. Removing community spaces would turn the project into a typical real estate operation, which the promoter wants to avoid.
Despite potential setbacks, Alain De Braekeleer is determined to continue with the project, as he believes there is a demand for it. He has submitted a third permit application, but there is a possibility of rejection.
The promoter has already reviewed his copy several times. Compared to the initial project, for example, the number of apartments has been reduced from 36 to 24. According to him, reducing further would no longer make it possible to operate grouped housing and all community activities.
“To bring to life all these commonplaces that contribute to the pleasure of life, explains Alain De Braekeleer, it takes arms and brains. So you need a number of people. We can’t go any lower except to start removing community spaces. But we would also reduce, I think, the pleasure of life.”
And if we remove the community spaces, we also risk falling back into a classic real estate operation, which the promoter does not want.
So what to do? For Alain De Braekeleer, giving up is not one of the options. Convinced that this project responds to a demand, he recently submitted a third permit application. But he may well be met with a third refusal.
Despite facing challenges and setbacks, the promoter of this housing project remains determined to bring it to life. With a focus on creating a community-oriented living experience, reducing the number of apartments has been necessary. However, any further reduction would compromise the essence of the project. The importance of community spaces in enhancing the pleasure of life cannot be understated, and removing them would be a step back into conventional real estate operations. Despite potential obstacles, the promoter continues to pursue the project and its vision. It remains to be seen if the third permit application will be the charm, but this promoter is not willing to give up on their dream.